Life-threatening smoke

Cooking stove smoke


The smoke from cooking stoves in rural Nepal areas continues to cause untold respiratory disease and distress.  The village woman pictured above is in an outdoor area that is ventilated but in the winter time, most women cook inside their homes  where smoke accumulates and becomes a major health hazard.


Cooking smoke is the next big issue we're planning to tackle in Nepal.  Pinkey, the Nepali supervisor, and Sangeeta,  one of our volunteers and a professional nurse, are working together to identify acceptable alternatives that vent the smoke.  Stay tuned for updates!

Women's Monthly Challlenge

Animal shelter in  rural Nepal

Pinkey teaching women to make sanitary pads

When Pinkey visited Arunkhola, Nawalparasi District in Nepal last month she encountered an ongoing problem that even today is common in the rural areas.  Many women are relegated to staying with the animals or in small outdoor sheds during their menstrual period.  Those who do not encounter these isolating circumstances still face hardships since the lack of sanitary supplies forces them to miss school and other activities during their monthly period.  

Pinkey took advantage of being in Arunkhola to teach the women how to make sanitary supplies with  moisture proof backing and fabrics that can be reused.  Pinkey's teaching has caught on everywhere with women eager to gain more control over their lives with simple supplies they can make for themselves.

Usha in mourning

 

Usha in mourning clothes

Pinkey, the Nepali health worker supervisor, made a long trip last week to visit the various project sites.  When she visited Arunkhola, Nawalparasi District to meet the volunteers there, she reported the following:

"I came to know that our volunteer Usha Sen's Husband passed away, I joined funeral activities there. In Hindu religion its a long process,widow or wife will stay at one specific area and for 13 days they don't touch others, they eat once time a day by prepare  rice at place which is away from house, or around people where people cant see while she is eating, they don't eat salt for 13 days and also other siblings,family member don't eat salt also.They use different materials utensil and spon by wood. They wear white cloths."

The whole HealthEd Connect team joins Pinkey in sending sincere condolences to Usha in her time of sorrow.